BLUE RIDGE, GA – Some major changes are coming to a couple of the Fannin County Board of Education policies in regards to bullying and suicide problems amongst students. In light of such, the board also voted to renew superintendent of schools Mark Henson’s contract for three more years.Currently the policy on bullying states that the school will take action against bullying if,

“An act which occurs on school property, on school vehicles, at school bus stops, or at school related functions or activities, or by use of data or software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, computer network, or other electronic technology of a local school system.”

The board has suggested to strike that statement and replace it with,

“The term applies to acts which occur on school property, on school vehicles, at
designated school bus stops, or at school related functions or activities or by use of data
or software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, computer network, or
other electronic technology of a local school system.

The term also applies to acts of cyberbullying which occur through the use of electronic communication, whether or not
electronic act originated on school property or with school equipment, if the electronic
communication (1) is directed specifically at students or school personnel, (2) is
maliciously intended for the purpose of threatening the safety of those specified or
substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school, and (3) creates a reasonable
fear of harm to the students’ or school personnel’s person or property or has a high
likelihood of succeeding in that purpose. Electronic communication includes, but is not
limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data or intelligence of
any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo
electronic or photo optical system.“

In short, this would disintegrate the perimeters of where bullying takes places and makes it possible for the school to intervene against bullying no matter where it takes place at, even off of school property.

This would leave no place for bullies to hide.

The next policy change was that dealing with suicide. It states that,

“The Board of Education shall provide to all certificated personnel annual training in suicide awareness and prevention in accordance with state law and rules established by the Georgia Department of Education.

The Superintendent or designee shall develop procedures to address at a minimum, suicide prevention efforts, intervention, and postvention. Such procedures shall be developed in consultation with school and community stakeholders, school employed mental health professionals, and suicide prevention experts.

In accordance with state law, no person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of this policy or its implementing procedures or resulting from any training, or lack thereof, required by state law or this policy. The training, or lack thereof, required by the provisions of state law shall not be construed to impose any specific duty of care. Neither the training nor the procedures are designed to impose ministerial duties but to provide a framework in which educators can exercise their professional judgment in the best interest of students.”

This policy would make it mandatory for all teachers and parapros to take yearly training on suicide awareness and prevention.

Both of these policy changes working in sync with each other will hopefully cut down on the rising suicide rate in our area due to bullying.

These two policies will lay on the board for public review for the next 30 days.

After the discussions on these policy changes and other agenda items the board voted to renew Henson’s contract for the next three years.

Stay tuned for more on the Fannin County Board of Education right here on FYN.

Watch the full meeting below

FanninBOE061115.0 from Fetch on Vimeo.

FanninBOE061115.1 from Fetch on Vimeo.

This last video shows the returning from executive session

FanninBOE061115 from Fetch on Vimeo.